Voluntary Blood Donors Association Nagaland along with Zunheboto stakeholder in Zunheboto on September 26. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Zunheboto | September 26
The Voluntary Blood Donors Association Nagaland (VBDAN), as part of its Nagaland State Tour for the Promotion of Voluntary Blood Donation Movement, held a stakeholder interaction in Zunheboto on September 26 to strengthen voluntary blood donation and expand the donor network across the district.
The programme, held under the theme “Every District, Every Donor, Every Life Matters,” brought together blood donors, healthcare representatives, Green Club members, civil society representatives, football association members and other stakeholders.
Ainato Yeptho, Member VBDAN said the state tour was aimed at taking the voluntary blood donation movement to the grassroots and establishing a more coordinated and uniform system of blood donors across the districts.
During the interaction, Bendangmoa Imsong, Member VBDAN highlighted the importance of reaching people at the community level and motivating more individuals to register as voluntary blood donors. He also introduced an Android-based donor platform through which registered donors and recipients can search for available blood groups and donors based on location.
He further explained that registered donors can update their location and donation status through the application. A donor who has recently donated blood can also update the profile, preventing unnecessary calls for a certain period.
The team further proposed the formation of district-level chapters to ensure a coordinated network and sharing of knowledge and resources among blood donor groups across Nagaland.
Tavinto K Sumi, President Green Club Zunheboto shared his experiences of responding to emergency requests, particularly when patients require blood at short notice. He highlighted the challenges faced by donor groups in maintaining regular availability of donors and responding to calls, including during late-night emergencies.
Sumi emphasised the need to increase awareness among students, churches, colonies and community organisations noting that students and young people could play an important role in expanding the voluntary donor network.
Alipoker Aier Member VBDAN shared the technicalities associated with the blood transfusion process and Blood bank facilities in Nagaland.
A major concern raised during the meeting was the functionality of blood storage facilities and the need for improved infrastructure and coordination. The participants discussed the need for better storage infrastructure to ensure that blood reaches patients in need without unnecessary delays.
The meeting also discussed greater coordination with government departments, educational institutions, churches, businesses and other organisations. The association suggested that government platforms and public programmes could be utilised to create wider awareness about voluntary blood donation.
The visiting team said it plans to continue its state-wide outreach and proposed further training and capacity-building programmes for representatives from different districts.
